As an extension of their commitment to the sport of paddling, Euro Steel have confirmed a partnership with the organisation, Save Our Rivers, which targets the ecological health of rivers in South Africa, for the benefit of all communities.

This partnership follows the successful involvement with Team Euro Steel who have dominated the podium in canoeing races in South Africa and abroad, both in river and surfski races, through champion ambassadors such as Hank McGregor, Hayley Nixon, Andy Birkett, Bridgette Hartley, Christie McKenzie, Kenny Rice and many others.

The easily recognisable green & white colours of Team Euro Steel are now being focused on greening initiatives to assist Save Our Rivers to ensure that paddlers and communities along the river have clean water. Save Our Rivers, managed by S-Cubed Sports, is a campaign aimed at raising awareness about the state of health of rivers in South Africa.

The partnership was a natural extension of the involvement of Euro Steel with the world famous Dusi Canoe Marathon which happens in February each year, a canoe race from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, when over 1000 paddlers make their way down the river. The paddlers become a barometer for the state of health of the rivers as the commonly know “Dusi Guts” effects more and more paddlers each year. This threat to the success of the race and the sport promoted Euro Steel to take action and improve the water quality for all.

Euro Steel CEO, Colin Wilson, himself a successful Dusi paddler, commented that Euro Steel’s commitment was greater than just the sport and the paddlers but also all communities who live and survive off the river, both directly and indirectly. “We are concerned about the state of the river, based on the health of the paddlers, and more so the greater community. We had to start being part of the solution and not just the problem,” commented Wilson.

In addition to their support of the Umgeni and Dusi rivers, the Euro Steel Pinetown branch has committed manpower and resources to assist with the clean-up of the Umbilo River, which runs past their KZN operation. Dave Wilson heads up the KZN branch and committed their support to the Umbilo River, after being the founder of the Umbilo River Watch Group some 18 years ago.

Euro Steel has shown full commitment both financially and in resources to the projects and are proving that action is more powerful than words or monetary support. Their staff are actively involved in the campaigns and are often seen picking up plastic litter from the river.

Euro Steel’s leading example is setting the standard for companies to aim towards by creating awareness of the environment they are surviving in, and turn them into communities in which everyone is thriving. Corporate South Africa need to take the lead in this space to make the key differences for all, Euro Steel are once again laying the path and setting the standard, constantly striving to find better ways to deliver.

For more information about Save Our Rivers or to support their initiatives through their Facebook page, see www.facebook.com/SaveOurRiversZA